What is the best time/place/position to read ? do you read on a desk or in bed or on the bus in your way back home ?

There are serious readers reading 82 books in months according to a previous TED conversation. how do these people do that ?

Reading a book is a physically exhausting task, there are many bad side effects as a result of bad posture and conditions of reading like neck pain back pain headache etc.

I have personally tried reading on a desk but that is something I can only do for a few hours and then I switch to awkward positions on bed and floor ... how do you read ? what is your suggestion ? does reading on a digital reader help ?

Jun 20 2012:
I don't know much and i am not a regular reader but still wants to share something...
I feel that position and place of reading depends upon the type of reading material... for ex its really tough to prepare for xams at garden and reading a love story in a library... before start reading i feel that there is a mindset and as we took any book in hands, our mind automatically decides the position and place but sometime we ignore it. Like whenever i start preparing for my xams my mind select only desk nothing else but sometime i study on bed and feel exhaustive.... sorry if i wrote something not related to your conversation...

Jun 20 2012:
Dear Sam,
I think/feel your comment is VERY RELATED to the conversation, and I totally agree that position and place of reading often depends upon the type of reading material. That's why I have so many different positions and places to read...I read many different kinds of material:>) I do not ignore my mind when it decides what position or place it wants to be while assimilating the information. I often have several books going at the same time, so I can choose which topic I am in the mood for at any particular time:>) Every once in awhile, I find a book that I simply cannot put down, and MUST read it every waking hour until it is finished. Good thing I am retired and have a flexible life style!!! :>)

Jun 20 2012:
Hi Sina,
Reading is one of my favorite activities and on average, I probably read a book a week....sometimes more....sometimes less...depends on what else is going on in my life:>)

I've never tried any digital or audio books...I like the real thing! I usually read in bed before falling asleep at night. Definitely read while traveling. I've been spending a lot of time at hospitals lately with my brothers, who are physically challenged, so I always have a book with me. I usually take a book with me to appointments because there is often a waiting period before actually participating in the appointment. I usually bring the book I'm reading in my vehicle in case I get stuck in traffic, or find that I have time between planned tasks. I often take a break from the gardens in the heat of the day, and sit on the porch...maybe have something to eat/drink...read a book while sitting in the rocking chair...sometimes move to the couch...sometimes it evolves into a nap!!! LOL:>) I LOVE to curl up on the covered porch in a rain storm and read. In the winter, I LOVE curling up by the fire in the wood stove and read...either sitting in a rocking chair or sitting/laying on the couch. Now that I think about it, I guess I usually have a book with me and read whenever the hands and brain are not otherwise occupied!!!

Jun 20 2012:
Isn't that a joy ...
curling up on the covered porch in a rain storm and read and curling up by the fire in the wood stove ... with the smell of woods burning ... what a sight ...
thank you for sharing these wonderful scenes of small (or BIG) pleasure. your comment makes me want to go grab a book and start reading as soon as possible.
and I hope your brothers get well soon and you send lovely moments with them on that beautiful porch , perhaps reading together.

Jun 20 2012:
Hi Sina,
I found reading e books stressful on PCs , laptops,and mobiles as sometimes we have to zoom in and out and thats annoying and stressful for the eyes ... I haven't tried reading through devices that specifically support e books. When I compare reading a hard copy of book(not more than 300 pages) , I felt its a lot better ..
I don't have the habit of reading heavy material so maybe in that case these dedicated e book devices can come in handy in terms of weight and comfort... Hope it helps
Regards,
Bharath

Jun 19 2012:
It seem that you have plenty time to reading. for me, I can only reading on [morning, before work; after lunch], the time is short, but the result is pretty good.I believe this: the good behavior or bad behavior can both spread. focus on one hour or two hour first. and the reading habit will growing gradually.

Jun 19 2012:
Actually most of my time reading is spent on university material but I am trying to create time for my own choices as well. yes , you are right. It is a Zen lesson that doing and repeating good behavior will create habits that makes them useful in the long run.

Jun 18 2012:
I read (and I had to read) a lot for school.. I also translate books, so I'm sick and tired of reading on a computer. Reading on a crowded bus helps me zone out and ignore the heat and the smells, though. But as you said, I usually end up in an awkward position on my floor/bed. I really like and recommend audio books, even though most people I know dislike them. The good side is the fact that the people who do the narration are usually amazing voice actors, plus you're hands are free. The bad side is that you don't have the actual book in your hands, can't feel it, smell it... :)

Jun 18 2012:
Thank you for mentioning Audio books ... I love them too and I listen to them at nights before I go to sleep. I love some of the voices that I wish all the books were read by them. and the computer voice is far from acceptable now to read a book.

smelling a book ,... YES ... that is probably the first thing I do when I get my hands on a new book/magazine. and feeling the texture of papers and the cover in your hand ... digital readers do not come close to that feeling.

Jun 19 2012:
I could not agree more with you on this Sina , when one is lonely, book is his only saviour . So personally, I had 3 hours of commute by bus to my work place both to and fro journey . It was during this point of time I used to read a lot of books (hard copies) . I did not like reading e books as it was quite stressful.
A place which has enough light and comfortable position to read which is a sitting position will suffice but reading should be limited to not more than 2 to 3 hours .